I've seen the word vitativeness used in a book about the history of writing, referring to a list of descriptive words written in 1900.
Vitative(ness) is not in my Oxford dictionary, nor dictionary.com. What does it mean?

Yes, while onelook is no match for a full OED, the ability to compare different definitions quickly is a great tool, especially as some of the specialist dictionaries give a new insight (though they include Urban Dictionary, which needs several pinches of salt).
–
Jon HannaFeb 21 '13 at 13:59

1 Answer
1

Vitativeness is in the Oxford English Dictionary, where it is described as a term used in phrenology (the scientific study of the mind). The meaning is given as ‘the love of life, the desire to live, regarded as a special faculty of the mind or brain.’ There are two supporting citations from the nineteenth century.

Thanks, Barrie. My Oxford at home is not the huge two volume edition.
–
amanda wittFeb 21 '13 at 11:04

I use the online OED at oed.com. It requires a paid subscription, but it's free in the UK to those who have a public library card.
–
Barrie EnglandFeb 21 '13 at 11:09

And if you decide to splash out on the full set, the online is more up to date than the print, so unless you want the luxury of the leather bound edition (and hey, if you're splashing out that much, why not go for both versions!), it's a good investment. It's not cheap though, so I tend to have it quarters I'm a bit flush, and not otherwise.
–
Jon HannaFeb 21 '13 at 12:16